Improvement in harvesting-machines



, J. F. BARRETT.

Mowing Machine.- No..17,134. Patented April 28, 1857.

- UNITED STATES rricE PATENT IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 7,134, dated April 28, 1837.

ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in combining with a cutter orheutters moving in a straight line parallel with the line of motion oscillating or swiveling knives, which swing upon centers which move in a line parallel with the line of motion of the carriage, as hereinafter described. To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l represents a top view of m ymachine Fig. 2, partial top view, showing a modification of the cutter, which moves in a straight line parallel with the line of motion of the carriage; and Fig. 3,.a vertical section on line new at Fig. 1, showing the construction of the lipbar and tappet-wheel.

A represents the frame ofthe machine, 0 the axle, and B B the wheels, of which latter B is the driver, having on its inner side a gear, 0, which meshes into the pinion D. Said pinion is keyed to a shaft, E, which runs in suitable bearings in the frame A, and is parallel with the shaft 0.

F represents a fly-wheel to regulate the motion ofthe shaft E, on which is keyed the wildcat or tappet wheel G, that operates the bar H by striking against its lip Is. Said bar has a longitudinal motion in the direction of the motion of the carriage, its rear end working in a hole or beariu g in a cross-beam, A,and its forward end being secured to the plate It, which runs on ways L L. The stroke of the bar H is regulated by the length of lappets on the wheel G and by the position of the stop-nut 1, which butts up against the back side of beam A. On the under side of bar H is a staple or eye, 13, in which one end of the spiral spring G is fastened, the opposite end of said spring being secured to the axle 0. Through either end of the plate It passes a rod, L, which is'adjusted and secured therein by nuts y y. The rods L L extend forward to nearly the middle of the finger-board, where they are secured to the ends of the cross-rod M, to which is fastened the knife N. Said knife is secured by the bolts 0 oto the slides Q Q, which move in the grooves of the fingers P P. On the forward ends of the slides Q Q are bolted the swivelin gor oscillating cutting-knivesRR, the points of which rest upon the middle finger or plain bar P. It will be observed that said oscillating knives are constructed with projections on their heels, which operate-against the stops Z Z, whereby the knives are allowed to make only a certain part of a revolution on their pivots.

The operation of my machine is readily coinprehended. As the carriage moves forward the main wheel B drives the shaft E by means of the gear 0 meshing into the pinion D; and said shaft carries the wild-cat or tappet wheel G, which strikes the lip 70 of the bar H and successively lifts the same hr carries it back, while it is successively brought forward again by the spiral spring G. Thus the knife N and bars or slides Q Q, in their bearingsin astraight line of motion parallel to the line of motion of the carriage, said knife and slides. being always impelled forward by the spiral spring G after having been carried back by the tappetwheel G operating against the lip In of the bar H. The sudden reversal of the vibrating motion of the pivots of the knives BRcauses the said knives to oscillate on their centers or swing in the arcs of circles described from the centers of said pivots. (The motion of knives R It on their pivots or bolts 8 s is represented by the arcs in red, Fig. 1.) Thus it is obvious that as the carriage moves forward the slidesQ Q, vibrating in the fingers P P, carry the knife N and centers or pivots s s of the knives R R with them in the same line of motion, while the pivoted knives R R, by reason of the sudden reversals of the direction of their motions and by the projections n c to operating against the stops Z Z, vibrate upon the pivots es in arcs of circles moving toward and from the knife N, while their pivots s 8 move with said knife N. The motion of the carriage against or toward the grain causes the latter to press the knives R B backward, or to turn them on their pivots s 8 toward the knifeN at the same time thatsaid knife N is moving backward, so that when said knife is relieved to make the cut-' ting stroke the knives R R are back toward the knife N as far as they are capable of being, and are prepared to make a cutting sweep,

or to swing on their pivots s s to the greatest extent of their vibration, after which vibration their lower notches, w w, strike the stops 2 z and cause the said knives to rebound toward their former position, or toward the knife N, toward which the progress is insured by the grain, as before described.

It will be observed tl1at,the forward or cutting motion of the knife N being dependent upon the spiral spring G, it does not matter at what speed the carriage moves.

The economy and simplicity of my improvement are evident, while its effectiveness is obvious from the combined motion of the straight vibrating and oscillating knives cutting in all directions and against each other.

Having fully explained the construction and operation of my machine, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patenl, lS-1 The combination of the straightforward and back moving knife N, or its equivalent, with the oscillating or swiveling knives R B, when constructed and operating substantially as 'described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand and seal this 4th day of April, 1857.

J. F. BARRETT. [L. s]

Witnesses:

J. N. McIN'rIRE, ARTHUR O. WATKINS. 

